Guadeloupe activities guide: our complete guide!

Hello, here I am again with an article on the best activities to consider during a trip to Guadeloupe. It’s been a while since I last wrote about our beautiful archipelago, where we’ve been based since 2021. And yet Guadeloupe has a great reputation! It’s even a popular destination for French people looking for a break from the sun in winter. What’s more, Guadeloupe’s two main islands, Grande-Terre and Basse-Terre, are very different. Both offer a variety of landscapes: white sandy beaches, mangroves and cliffs for Grande-Terre, and mountains and tropical forests for Basse-Terre. After many requests, we wrote an article on things to do in French Polynesia, which was very helpful. So I thought you might find this type of article useful, this time for Guadeloupe! We’ve been living here for three years now and I can tell you that we’ve tried quite a few activities (but there are still a few left, haha).

So, as usual, we’ve put together a guide based on our own experiences and those of our friends and family. In this article, we’ll mainly be talking about nature/sports/outdoor activities! Of course, there are other activities and places to visit that we’ll tell you about in a future article! As you can see, our aim is to make it easier for you to organise your holiday so that you can plan your budget for a stay in Guadeloupe!

In this article you’ll find a number of links to the Manawa website, an online activity booking site that we have been recommending and using for years with our eyes closed.

If you’re spending a week’s vacation in Guadeloupe, we’ve put together a classic itinerary that we highly recommend!

To introduce you to the activities on Grande-Terre, I’ll start with snorkelling and diving! These are two of the must-do activities here. To go snorkelling in Grande-Terre (well, offshore), you can discover the Grand Cul-de-Sac Marin nature reserve, very close to Port-Louis. It’s an excellent site with magnificent coral gardens! Even on the surface, as the water is transparent, you’ll be able to see some beautiful species (angelfish, parrotfish and even turtles).

For those who want to go deeper, you can dive in the lagoon of Saint-François. Here too you can make some wonderful discoveries of marine life. For the record, you can dive anywhere in Guadeloupe, but there are places like Saint-François and Grand Cul-de-Sac where the waters are particularly rich!

It will be a great way to discover some of Guadeloupe’s animals.

If you’re looking for a peaceful way to take in the scenery and get close to the mangroves, I’d recommend paddle boarding. We had the chance to do one with Mélanie in Morne-à-l’Eau! It was a great discovery! What impressed us most was the atmosphere of nature and tranquility as we crossed the mangroves. If you’d like to know more about our trip, please read our dedicated article. Of course, there are many other places to discover by kayak, including Sainte-Anne and Le Gosier! The Gosier spot allows you to discover the famous Gosier Ilet and its beauty. The Sainte-Anne spot takes you to another famous place we’d love to see, the mangrove swamps of Anse à la Barque beach!

For those who love thrills and speed, you can take the controls of a jet ski, alone or in pairs! There are several routes from Port-Louis and Le Gosier in the northwest of Guadeloupe. We’re not really big fans of jet skis, but we’ll give it a go one day! In fact, we’ll probably write an article about it to share our experiences with you! To be continued, ahah… Only stupid people don’t change their minds, right?

If you love water sports, why not take advantage of your stay in Guadeloupe to try kitesurfing? The Feeling Kite school, one of the best in Guadeloupe, offers group lessons and courses in Sainte-Anne. Depending on your level, you’ll be in groups of three with an instructor. Personally, I think that’s a plus! As a little anecdote, my brother did a bit of kitesurfing when he first arrived in Martinique and I have to admit it looked pretty cool. It’s an activity I would love to try!

After kitesurfing lessons and courses, sports enthusiasts will be delighted with surfing lessons and courses. Whether you want to learn or improve your skills, Saint-François and Sainte-Anne are the perfect places to surf. You can choose from half-day, full-day or multi-day courses. The choice is yours!

Kayaking: a really fun way to combine sport and discovery! You can hire a kayak for two hours or a whole day! It’s easy to hire kayaks in several places on Grande-Terre. To give you an idea, Le Gosier is a beautiful spot with crystal clear waters, while Morne-à-l’Eau is perfect for navigating through the mangroves (as we did on a paddle). I have to admit that Mélanie and I often argue when we’re kayaking; we wonder if we’re the only ones! One of us is going to die one day from a paddle stroke, haha!

No more sports: let yourself be guided on a boat trip! Departing from Port-Louis or Baie-Mahault, you can discover the Grand Cul-de-Sac! It’s a magnificent reserve with a protected ecosystem and a variety of landscapes, from mangroves to white sandy beaches. This is a full day excursion. If you ask me, you won’t be disappointed!

Let’s face it, there are a lot of water activities to choose from in Grande-Terre. To help you make your choice, I’ve put together a summary in the form of a table with the budget, duration of the activity, etc. It’s all there to make your life easier. I hope it makes your life easier!

We’re off to a great start with our microlight and seaplane flights! In fact, it was Mélanie who was lucky enough to experience her first microlight flight over Guadeloupe! Between the landscapes, the shades of blue of the lagoons, the excitement before take-off and the tranquility once up there, she has wonderful memories. In fact, if you’d like to read her whole story in detail, it’s right here.

As for the seaplane flight, this time I was the lucky one! It wasn’t my first time, as I’d already had the chance to fly over Bora Bora in a seaplane (it was magical!). I didn’t see the 35-minute flight go by; I felt like a child in awe of the contrasting colors and the feeling of freedom in the air! Although it’s certainly not cheap, I highly recommend this seaplane experience in Guadeloupe (see our dedicated article).

Have you always wanted to try paragliding? In Le Moule, you can take your first paragliding flight and enjoy breathtaking views over cliffs, pristine beaches and turquoise waters. Sounds pretty appealing, doesn’t it? To be honest, I’ve never been paragliding before, but I think it must be an incredible feeling, especially over the cliffs by the sea!

My first paragliding experience

For the more adventurous, why not try parasailing over the Bay of Gosier? You’ll be able to soar up to 50 meters in the air, alone or with friends (you’d better not be afraid of heights, haha), and admire some truly exceptional views. As a bonus, you’ll be able to take a video home with you. Personally, I think that’s always a plus when you want to keep a souvenir of the moment to share with friends and family.

Try parasailing

If you’re tempted to discover Guadeloupe from the air, but you’re not sure which excursion(s) to choose, I’ve put together a table summarising everything. I hope it helps. That’s the aim!

For a three-hour tour of Grande-Terre, take a buggy ride! From sugar cane fields to white sandy beaches, you’ll be full of discoveries (and photos!). What’s more, this excursion includes a stop for a swim! For our part, we went buggy riding in Tahiti with Mélanie and it was really fun! It was a nice change from the usual tours, with a touch of adventure.

Book my buggy trip

If you want to discover a variety of landscapes and spend a sporty half day, mountain biking is the way to go! Don’t worry, you can choose between a classic mountain bike or one with electric assistance (which helps a lot, ahah). As for the scenery, you won’t be disappointed! From Sainte-Anne, you’ll pass through sugar cane fields and the magnificent Bois Jolan beach. From Saint-François, the route is steeper, but you’ll be rewarded by the magnificent views from Pointe des Colibris and Pointe des Châteaux.

Mountain bike adventure

Here’s a summary of land-based activities in Grande-Terre, with all the information you need!

THE walk not to be missed in Basse-Terre is the Soufrière volcano! We even did it twice: the first time alone with the family. I can tell you it was a wonderful adventure, at our own pace with the children. The scenery was stunning! The second time was with a guide and it was really worth it. If you want to do this walk without missing anything, I’d recommend the guided walk to La Soufrière. If you still have some time and energy left after La Soufrière, you can also take a walk in the Parc de la Source. Situated next to the famous Cousteau Reserve, you’ll have a choice of several trails that take you along the banks of the Bourceau River and through the heart of the vegetation. However, it’s not necessarily the first activity I’d recommend…

We haven’t tried canyoning yet, but we want to one day! In fact, our friend Valérie, who visited us in Guadeloupe, tried it and had some excellent memories. With its natural slides, descents and adrenaline rush, she even wrote an article about the experience. Most canyoning trips take place around La Soufrière, so you’re right in the middle of a tropical setting! But you can also go canyoning near Deshaies. So, are you up for it?

Try canyoning

Having told you about the main land-based activities in this part of Guadeloupe, here’s a summary to help you make your choice!

If you want to spend a relaxing day, you can rent a boat and drive it yourself! From Bouillante, you’ll be free to go wherever you want. I recommend that you take the opportunity to go to the Cousteau Reserve, which is not far away. You can stop there to swim or snorkel. Just remember to bring your mask and snorkel!

Speaking of masks and snorkels, if you want to go snorkelling under supervision, you can do so with Les Heures Saines Plongée. You’ll be taken on a two-hour snorkelling trip to the Réserve Cousteau. Here you can easily observe the marine fauna (tropical fish, rays, turtles, etc.). For those who want a more complete immersion in the underwater world, you can choose between a first dive, a guided exploration dive and an autonomous exploration dive. It all depends on your level and your desires!

For the record, Mélanie and I opted for the introductory dive. I can tell you that it was really great. The colourful reefs, the variety of sites, the coral – it was all there! For more details, I suggest you read our article about our dive at the Réserve Cousteau.

We’re still at the Réserve Cousteau, but this time we’re kayaking in complete freedom! You can hire kayaks for three hours or the whole day! If you like, you can even paddle out to the îlets Pigeon (which we recommend) for some swimming, sunbathing and snorkelling. In my opinion, kayaking is a great way to discover this magnificent setting in complete tranquillity. We went with Mélanie, without the kids, for a day, taking our time, and it was great!

Let’s do one last nautical activity in Basse-Terre! Around the Cousteau Reserve (not inside, it’s forbidden), from the beach of Malendure, you can enjoy a jet-ski excursion. A mix of speed and discovery, lasting 30 minutes, two hours or half a day. The choice is yours!

As you’ll have noticed, there is a wide range of water activities on offer, especially around the Cousteau Reserve. So that you don’t get confused, here is a summary of all the essential information!

If you want to enjoy the tranquility and admire the underwater world, you should rent a paddle. You’ll be in the bay of Pain de Sucre, where the water is simply magnificent! You can choose between a clear bottom paddle, a bicycle paddle and a step paddle for the more sporty types. Personally, I’d go for the clear-bottomed paddle!

Read all about it in our article on activities in Les Saintes with Loisirs aux Saintes!

This is a tried and tested activity! We were lucky enough to experience it as a family and I can’t recommend it highly enough (it was great, with sublime scenery!). We set sail for Terre-de-Bas. And the best part was that the four of us were on the water, with no engine noise. In short, I think this sailing trip is a must!

For a more traditional water activity than sailing, you can opt for a boat trip to discover Les Saintes. You’ll be in a small group (12 people) and you’ll be able to enjoy the beauty and tranquility of the area. One thing’s for sure, you’ll remember the scenery for a long time!

As with Grande-Terre, you can take advantage of the idyllic setting of Les Saintes to try your hand at kitesurfing. Just to clarify, we only offer courses (not lessons) over several days! Depending on the length of your stay and what you fancy, it could be worth it!

Once again you can rent a transparent kayak! It’s the ideal way to explore Les Saintes at your own pace and get a good glimpse of its rich, crystal clear waters. Just a quick note: the rentals are for one or two hours. Don’t worry, that’s plenty of time!

We’ve now arrived on the island of Désirade, ideal for a quiet getaway. We spent four days there with Mélanie and the kids. From the moment we arrived, we were enchanted by this little tropical paradise. If you like peace and quiet and authenticity, Désirade is definitely worth a visit.

For snorkeling, you can just put on a mask and snorkel and go anywhere. To explore the depths, I went diving with Îlot Plongée Désirade. I was accompanied by Olivier, the instructor, who knows the island and the best spots like the back of his hand. I saw some really nice things, even if I didn’t see any big ones (rays, dolphins), but I heard them all the time. The change of scenery was also really good. I highly recommend diving with Olivier.

Visiting La Désirade by mountain bike is pretty cool! Between heavenly beaches, picturesque villages (like Beauséjour) and wild landscapes, this 28km circuit is a great way to immerse yourself in the heart of the island. In my opinion, it’s a great way to get to know the island and, thanks to the guide, you won’t miss a thing.

If you want to get off the beaten track, hiring a buggy is an excellent way to explore the interior of the island. You won’t have a guide this time, but you can take your time and visit every corner you want! In my opinion, whether you’re with friends or family, this is a fun activity to do over the course of a day.

Let’s move on to the famous island of Marie-Galante. To tell you the truth, we had the opportunity to spend 7 days there to really take the time to visit it. I’d say this island is well worth a visit for anyone looking for a few days of peace and quiet away from the more touristy areas.

One of the main activities on the island is undoubtedly hiking. Here are just a few not to be missed:

• Sentier de l’Anse à Coq: Well, it’s more like a 20-minute walk that leads to a beautiful beach between two cliffs. What’s more, you’ll have great views of the sea from the top of the cliffs along the way!
• Sentier des Galeries: a short 45-minute walk along the coast (you can imagine the views!).
• Sentier de la Côte Est: I haven’t done this, but it also follows the cliffs. I think it’s well worth the detour!

We always come back to snorkeling and diving, haha! Marie-Galante is no exception – you can easily do it there! In fact, I’d like to take this opportunity to give you the names of two renowned diving clubs on the island: Plongée Marie-Galante and Ti’bulles. Don’t hesitate to contact them for your discovery dives!

Petite-Terre is also a small corner of paradise for snorkeling and diving. Made up of two islands (Terre-de-Bas and Terre-de-Haut), this archipelago is renowned for its crystal-clear waters and coral reefs. In other words, you’ll be able to enjoy some great underwater encounters: turtles, rays, tropical fish, you name it!

From Saint-François, take a day trip by boat to Petite-Terre! It’s the perfect opportunity to explore every nook and cranny of this sublime archipelago: turquoise lagoons, sandy beaches and marine life – it’s all there! And let’s not forget swimming and relaxing. I think you’ll really enjoy this trip!

Well, that’s the end of my guide to the best things to do in Guadeloupe! As you can see, there’s something for everyone. Whether you’re traveling with family or friends, there’s something for everyone! I hope you find this guide useful when planning your holiday in Guadeloupe. If you’d like to read more, check out our guide to when to go to Guadeloupe!

See you soon for more activities!

Written by Sylvain PONS

Since 2021, I've been living in the Guadeloupe archipelago with Mélanie and our two children. We are exploring these beautiful islands and discovering the treasures that we are happy to share with you!

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